Mounting for torque drives



Dec. 22, 1942. T. R. SMITH MOUN'VIING FOR TORQUE DRIVE Filed July 29,1940 Patented Dec. 22, 1942 MOUNTING FOR TORQUE DRIVES Thomas R. Smith,Newton, Iowa, assigner to The Maytag Company, Newton, Iowa, acorporation of Delaware Application July 29, 1940, Serial No. 348,278

2 Claims.

The present invention relates tn a torque drive for a washing machineand more particularly to a novel mounting for the torque drive in theagitator center post whereby to allow for adjustment of the agitator,elimination of shock load to the mechanism at the end of each stroke orinstant of reversal and the prevention of noise transmission through theagitator and tub.

In the present construction. the upper end of the drive shaft is splinedto receive a torque member or drive sleeve formed with internal,complementary splines to provide a positive and efcientdrivingconnection. This splined torque member is suitably secured in theencompassing center post of an agitator or washing element by means of aflexible mounting of rubber or rubber-like material such as theso-called synthetic rubbers, and is preferably in the form of a sleeveencompassing the splined torque member and pressed into the center postof the agitator to receive and accurately position the center post andagitator on the drive shaft vith respect to the bottom of the tub.

One common objection to the present commercial forms of splined drivesused in washing machines of the agitator type in which the agitator isoscillated through a predetermined arc, is that considerable wear andplay between the complementary parts results from the rapid reversal indirection of the agitator at the end of each stroke. By resilientlvmounting one of these complementary members, wear due to such shockloads is substantially eliminated. In addition, the novel mountingprovides an effective silencer in that any noises emanating from thegear case or torque drive will be insulated from the agitator and tub.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity,eiciency. economy and ease of assembly and operation, and such furtherobjects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear andare inherently possessed thereby.

The invention further resides in the construction, combination andarrangement of parts i1- lustrated in the accompanying drawing, andwhile I have shown therein a preferred embodiment, it is to beunderstood that the same is susceptible of modification and change, andcomprehends other details, arrangements of parts, features andconstructions without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a washing machine employing the novelinvention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged view, part in side elevation and partin vertical cross section of the agitator, its mounting upon the driveshaft and associated parts.

Fig. 3 is a view in vertical cross section through the splined end ofthe drive shaft, and splined torque member and the mounting for thistorque member or sleeve in the agitator center post.

Fig. 4 is a view in horizonal cross section taken in a plane representedby the line 4--4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of the splined end of thedrive shaft.

Fig. 6 is a view in horizontal cross section taken on the line B-B ofFig. 5.

Referring more particularhv to the illustrative embodiment disclosed inthe drawing, Fig. 1 shows a washing machine I having a wringer 2 mountedthereon. This washing machine is of the agitator type in which the drivemechanism rapidly oscillates an agitator shaft 3 upon which. isremovably mounted an agitator 4. Suitable drive mechanism may beprovided such as a worm wheel 5 driven through a suitable mechanism froma motor or other power source 6, and this worm wheel in turnreciprocating a rack or cross head I in meshing engagement with a pinion8 adapted to be keyed or clutched to and rapidly driving the agitatorshaft 3 in any suitable manner and through a predetermined. arc ofoscillation.

The present invention is directed more particularly to the driveconnection between the agitator shaft 3 and the agitator 4 and in whichthe agitator shaft at its upper end is splined at 9. These splines arepreferably interrupted adjacent their lower end to provide an annularslot I0 for receiving and retaining a split ring II. The diameter ofthis split ring is such as to tensionally retain the agitator in itsoperative position by its expanding force against the interior of aninternally splined torque member in the form of a hollow sleeve I2, thelower end I4 of the splines I3 in the sleeve I2 abutting against andbeing prevented from further adjustment downwardly by the upper edge ofthe split ring I I.

In order to allow for initia1 accurate adjustment of the agitator withrespect to the bottom I4a of the tub and to eliminate shock load to themechanism at the time of reversal of the agitator in its cycle ofoscillation, and to further prevent the transmission of any gear case ortorque noises to the agitator or tub, the invention comprehends mountingthe torque sleeve I2 in rubber or other rubber-like materials having theresilient and retaining properties of rubber. In the disclosedembodiment, this mounting is in the form of spaced sleeves or collars I5bonded to the sleeve l2 and/or adjacent cylindrical portion of theinterior of the center post I6 of the agitator, or suitably wedgedtherebetween.

It will be readily appreciated that this mounting provides a uniquemanner of connecting the torque member I2 in the center post of theagitator, but which mounting, due to its resilient character, eliminatesto a great extent any wear between complementary splines on the upperend of the shaft and in the sleeve I2, in that this mounting will takethe shock load and prevent its being transmitted and amplified. It thusfunctions as an eiilcient silencer.

Having thus disclosed the invention, I claim:

1. A torque drive for actuating a washing machine agitator of the typehaving a vertical center post adapted to be oscillated by the driveshaft through a. predetermined arc, comprising splines on the upper endof the drive shaft, a sleeve having complementary splines and adapted tobe mounted on and driven by the drive shaft, a split ring against whichthe lower edge of the splined sleeve abuts for limiting the verticaladjustment of the splined sleeve and center post, and a exible mountingcomprising spaced resilient co1- lars for anchoring said sleeve in thelower end of the center post of the agitator to accurately position thecenter post and agitator on the drive shaft with respect to the bottomof the tub as Well as eliminate shock load to the associated parts atthe end of each stroke and prevent noise transmission through theagitator and washing machine tub, said splines on the drive shaft andsleeve being of relatively great length to form the torque drive for theagitator and to center and align the agitator upon the shaft.

2. In a driving connection for a washing machine having a verticaloscillating drive shaft and an agitator having a center post adapted tobe mounted upon and oscillated by said drive shaft in a predeterminedposition with respect to the bottom of the washing machine tub, a drivesleeve in said center post and adapted to be detachably connected to thedrive shaft, complementary splines of relatively great length on saiddrive shaft and sleeve providing the torque drive and sole support andcentering means for the agitator whereby to stabilize lateral movementthereof, a flexible mounting for the drive sleeve secured within thelower end of the center post for resiliently anchoring said drive sleevein the center post and thereby eliminating shock load to the associatedparts at the end of each stroke as well as preventing noise transmissionthrough the agitator and washing machine tub, and means carried by thelower splined end of the shaft and cooperating with the drive sleeve forlimiting the downward adjustment of the center post to accuratelyposition the center post and agitator on the drive shaft with respect tothe bottom of the tub.

THOMAS R. SMITH.

